Beginners don’t have to be afraid of the steadicam or other stabilizers. Here you will find all you need to know to get started, equipment possibilities, budgets, first time tries and many useful tricks. We show examples with our recently bought Tarion Steadicam (and this is not an advertisement).

Break the Couch Lab is a series of videos in wich we study and research each time a new filmmaking skill.

By using materials you can find around your house and a GoPro Hero4 Black Edition we explain how we made a gadget that lets you swing your camera around your head and have the lens constantly pointed towards you mimicking the Matrix Bullet effect.

Break the Couch Lab is a series of videos in wich we study and research each time a new filmmaking skill.

When talking about camera Angles what we mean is the relationship between the camera and the object being filmed. This gives emotional information to an audience, and guides their judgment about the character or object in shot. A scene may be shot from several camera angles simultaneously. The different camera angles will have different effects on the viewer and how they perceive the scene that is shot. The more “extreme” the angle, the more symbolic and heavily-loaded the shot.

All videos are either public domain or our own shots.

Break the Couch Lab is a series of videos in which we study and research each time a new filmmaking skill.

Song (under CC Attribution licence):
Doctor Turtle – 05 – It Looks Like The Future But It Feels Like The Past

A camera shot is the amount of space that is seen in one shot or frame. Camera shots are used to demonstrate different aspects of a film’s setting, characters and themes. Using them the filmmaker can manipulate the audience’s field of view. As a result, camera shots are very important in shaping meaning in a film.

All videos are either public domain or our own shots.

Break the Couch Lab is a series of videos in which we study and research each time a new filmmaking skill.

Song (under CC Attribution licence):
Doctor Turtle – 05 – It Looks Like The Future But It Feels Like The Past

A cut is an abrupt or sudden change or jump in camera angle, location, placement, or time, from one shot to another. A visual cut consists of a transition from one scene to another.

The basic categories of cutting we analyse in these videos are: Hard Cut, Cutting on action, Cuttaway, Look off, Cross cutting, Jump Cut, Match cut, Dissolve, Smash Cut, Iris, Wipe, Fade, Invisible cut, Combinations of the previous. We made some small examples using playmobil toysso that we will have easy and first hand experience.

Break the Couch lab is a series of videos in which we study and research each time a new filmmaking skill.

Song (under CC Attribution licence):
Doctor Turtle – 05 – It Looks Like The Future But It Feels Like The Past

Break The Couch team proudly introduces Break The Couch labs, an online series about new media, filmmaking & photography techniques

In Break the Couch we share the passion for new media and filmmaking. Over the last few years we have substantially invested in equipment which we have used successfully in multiple projects so far. In May 2016, we decided to take our knowledge to the next skill level and in parallel we wanted to share our newly acquired knowledge with whomever is interested in learning filmmaking. This thought gave birth to our new series of episodes, called “BTC Labs”.

In these episodes we are experimenting with a new technique, we combine our knowledge, and we make a video. There is a lot of work to these episodes but this is something that doesn’t scare us at all, inversely it motivates us so much and we have tons of fun. We are going to the beach to take time-lapses, and in forests to practice our new Steadicam shots, let alone the DIY projects that enable us to get some cool camera angles videos.

Let’s be clear, we don’t see BTC labs as an end in itself but as a means to achieve the vision of Break The Couch. Summarizing the above in some crisp sentences, with our new series we aim at:

Learn about filmmaking and mobilize others to learn and pursue their creative passions by participating in the episodes

Use the knowledge to substantially improve the next Break The Couch projects

Share the knowledge and passion with the broader community that may not have access to Break The Couch due to other constraints e.g. logistics, time

We wanted for a while to get involved in sports but we were seeking the necessary opportunity. An opportunity which would combine athletics with a broader social impact. The opportunity arose and we decided to make a few videos about 1st Efklios Run in South Ymittos, Athens organized by Efklis. When we got to know about the event, we contacted the necessary authorities and voluntarily offered to make videos about the run.

Why did we choose this run? For us it was a clear cut:

1) Parts of the proceeds from the participants’ fee will be donated for the reforestation of Ymittos. Ymittos is a mountain range in the Athens area, which has suffered a lot from fires during the past decades

2) It was the first run organized for this purpose and we wanted to raise awareness for the event and its objective and help the local community

3) We thought that a mountain run would be very attractive for video purposes

We made visits to meet the organizers and to see the mountain and the trail where the run would take place. Two members of Break the Couch visited in advance the place and filmed a teaser video (which was published 2 weeks in advance of the event) to raise the number of participations. In addition it was great for us to structure our thoughts and see which the best places to shoot from are.

Break The Couch team is presenting the phase3 of the project Mediagraphy+ which is a Youth Exchange about “Photo and Video”.

Our team has 5 placements for Greek participants aged between 18-30. Food, accommodation are covered and travel costs are reimbursed up to 170€ and there is a participation fee to the hosting organization 30€.

There is no deadline, because we do not like dead people. We will accept applications until 5 people have tickets to Iasi. You can find out live if there are free spots here: http://bit.ly/SynergyGreeceCalendar

For applying and questions drop us a line at: panagiotis at breakthecouch.com

Break The Couch team is opening now the application procedure for enthusiastic participants for the Mediagraphy+ phase2, Youth Exchange happening in Iasi, Romania between 16-23 February 2016 organised by Synergy Romania.

Read what Maria, participant of phase1 shared after her experience in phase1: “Mediagraphy+ is a Youth Exchange project designed to enhance your self-branding skills. The vision of Mediagraphy+ is the power of choice, the authenticity and the expression of the inner self, aspects unique for each person.
The first part of the project, focused on social media, is already completed and provided the participants with diverse skills such as communication and creativity tips, IT skills (use of softwares like Illustrator, Indesign, etc) and useful ideas of self-promotion.
We got to design our own logo and moto, develop our speech skills, experiment with new photography techniques and much more.
We formed a strong, bonded group and saw the development in each of us through these 9 beautiful days in Iasi, Romania.
Don’t wait more. Apply for the second and third parts 🙂“

Our 10″ pinch

We are an informal group of ambitious people originated from Athens. We are young filmmakers interested in new media & youth work. All these combined together with our will to learn and the decision tobecome active and creative brought the “Break the Couch” team to life.